The Attack of the Blinded Dolls: A Eulogy

12.06.2004

I find the proliferation of teeny boppers taking the shortcut to stardom absurd, if not hilarious. Major television networks have now created a contemporary world of nostalgia subliminally taking advantage of our youth’s extravagant dreams in hitting the spot the easier route. For them, reality TV contests like Starstruck or Star Circle Quest (or anything that has STAR on it) and the like are their new niche, an avenue for them to display their seemingly fair and needs improvement talents and skills. These major TV networks waste their time and energy in producing individuals that are not, if solely concerned with perfecting the art of smiling, are banking on their below average talent in the performing arts as their sure-shot ticket in the interesting world of Vanity Fair.

With the sudden emergence of this behavioral altruism created by the blinding lights of fame and fortune, our youths tend to neglect a number of things. They are so into their present that sometimes they fail to take a peek into their future. They allow the present take full control of their logic and procrastinate on one thing that counts most: planning.

Most of the blinded youths joining in these reality TV contests quit school in order to give full attention to their so-called stints to popularity. Half of them take the other form of suicide, and kill their selves by attending school while simultaneously going through a series of tedious auditions here and there (and practically everywhere!). Some even try the “makaawa effect” (read: ayoko nang maging dukha!) and use this as a scapegoat intricately planned to swat off detractors who believes that show business is so baduy. Once, I even caught an interview with one of the “blinded youngsters” and he adamantly told the interviewer that his parents even resigned on their jobs to fully support their offspring’s shot to stardom. The blinded youth, by the way is the eldest among the brood of five. (How supportive naman his parents!)

The question: is this a new sociological construct with which we riskly expose the future leaders of our land? By watching them in our boob tubes in a somewhat compulsive manner, are we tolerating them as they immerse their selves in the deceiving world of show business. As we watch them every single night (like our life greatly depended on it), we become “entertained” witnesses to their fanfare suicide. As viewers, are we guilty of shaping the society’s demand from the entertainment world , or are we simply victims of a crime subliminally committed by top rating TV shows? Are we accepting that this new behavior is a part of a progressive civilization under the powerful persuasion of the entertainment media?

Don’t blame us if by a decade from now, we have a presidential candidate whose platform is to uplift the dental health of all Filipino citizens in order for them to perfect the craft of “smiling”.

Think.

Harder.

*****

Note: The viewpoints/opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily that of the writer. She may change her stand regarding the matter, probably the very moment that you read this. Besides, she gets satisfaction from watching StarStruck especially now that another blinded youth (who happens to be a Kapampangan) got into the top 10—and whose modus operandi is to deceive people, create an alter personality so as to gain votes. )